James m



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

J M. KARE.

POTATO PLANTER.

Patented July 7. 1885.

IJVVEJVTOR:

.lltzorney 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

mammal.

J. M. KARR.

POTATO PLANTER,

No. 321,439. Patented July 7, 1885.

Zttorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcrz- JAMES M. KARE, OF ALMOND, NEXV YORK.

POTATO-PLANTE R.

QP CIPZCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,439, dated July '7, 1885.

Application filed September 25,1884. (X0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES M. KARE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Almond, in the county ot'Allegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Planters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in potato-planters, especially that for which a patent, No. 267,899, was granted to Edward P. Karr and myself, jointly, November 21, 1882; and the invention consists in certain features of construction, combination, and arrangement hereinafter described, and specifically set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of a potato-planter embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial plan view, and Figs. 3 to 7 enlarged detail views, hereinafter described.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

To the rails A of a rectangular main frame work are secured stub-axles B, a suitable draft-pole, C, a hopper-supporting ,framework, D, and a seat, E.

Pivotally secured to the front bar ofv the frame-work are the plow-beams F and the draftbars G of the planting-shoe H. A suitable lever, I, rock-shaft l, and chains 1 are employed for raising and dropping the plows and shoe, as is customary.

Arranged centrally within the hopper D, and extending from the front to, through, and beyond the rear wall thereof, is a conr partment, D the forward portion thereof being separated from the remaining portion by a partition, D, and provided with a cover, D whereby itis adapted for use as a toolbox, the partition D being placed in close proximity to the outlet D" of the hopper.

\Vithin the rearportion of the compartment D is arranged an endless belt, D having pockets or spaces formed by transverse strips D, which may be of any desired shape. The

endless belt is mounted upon rollers D, having projecting pins D which pass through holes D formed at the edges of the belt. The forward roll, 1), is provided with a ratchet, D which is operated by a pawl, D", pivotally mounted on a rock-arm, D, to which is pivotally connected a rod, D, which is operated, as hereinafter described. so as to cause the endless belt D to be moved intermittently over the rollers from rear to front.-

From the dischargeopening D of the hopper to and within the shoe H there extends a flexible conductor, H. A scat, D, is secured to the hopper for the use of a driver, while the seat E is intended for the use of the dropper or person whose duty it is to take potatoes or pieces thereof from the hopper and place a sutficient quantity in each space of the belt for a hill, the machine afterward automatically dropping the quantities thus placed upon the belt in successive hills and covering the same.

The plantingshoe H is formed in two castings or halves, H'-,(see Fig. 8,) each of which has lugs H for the reception of bolts, which serve, among other purposes, that of securing the two halves of the shoe together. Each half of the shoe is provided with an aperture, H, and is cut away or recessed to form a concavity, H adapted to receive the concave edges of a drop-valve, J. The valve is provided at its rear end with a lug, J, to which is pivotall y secured a bent rod, K, which passes between the halves of the shoe, one of which is cut away, as at H H, for the passage of said rod. The valve is provided with integral lugs J which enter perforations H in each half of the shoe, whereby the valve is pivotally supported within the shoe in such position thatwhen it opens its free end advances to the front wall of the shoe. (Sec dotted arrow, Fig. 1.)

By referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the draft-bars G of the shoe are spread at their forward ends, and are brought toward each other and pivotally connected at G to one of the lugs of the shoe. The forward end of the bracket is provided with a series of holes, G, in one of which is entered the usual wooden safety-pin G.

The purpose of bending the rod K as shown is to depress the same between the bars G and direct it over the lug H and downwardly into the shoe to the valve, and to permit vertical movement of the shoe in raising and lowering the same into and out of operation.

Upon the forward part of the framework is mounted a rock-shaft, L, one arm of which,

L, is pivotally connected with the rod K. Said rock-shaft is provided with a rock-arm, L'fiwhich serves as a foot-lever for rocking the shaft at will, and a slotted rock-arm, L, in the slot, of which the forward end of the connecting-rod D is adjustably secured by a pin or bolt, D.

By the construction thus far described, it

will be seen that the driver, by means of the foot-lever L mayv operate simultaneously the feed-belt and the dropping-valve,so that there being one charge upon the valve it is dropped, and the succeeding charge is delivered from the belt during the operation of the rock-shaft, as hereinafter described. Now, in order to intermittently and at predetermined periods operatethedropping-valve and the feed-belt, I have provided the following means: Inside of the wheel,upon the stubaxle B, is mounted a sprocket, B, connected bya chain, B,to asecond sprocket, B mounted upon the shaft L, and outside of the framework a bracket, B, serving as the bearing for the outer end of the shaft. \Vithin the hub B of the sprocket B is a lug, B, having a vertical face, B, and an inclined face, B An oscillating and reciprocating latch, M, is mounted in a box, M, which is secured by a set-screw, M", to the shaft L.

By referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the construction and operation of these parts will be readily understood, Fig. 5-being a top edge view of the latch M, Fig. 4 being a sectional view of the box, latch-sprocket,-

and hub, and Fig. 6 being an inner end view of the sprocket. The latch M comprises a body portion having an extension, M, about which is a coiled spring, M, which presses against the free end of the body portion, and against a lug, M, of the box M, the said box being recessed at M to receive the body portion of the latch. The front end of the latch is provided with two projecting lugs, M and Mfl'the former arranged within the hub of the sprocket B and the latter being arranged to come in contact with the cam N, fixed upon the frame-work in such position that as the rock-shaft, the box, and the latch mounted thereon oscillate to the front the projection M is caused to travel upon the inclined face of the can], and to be thereby forced backwardagainst the tension of the spring M", this movement of the latch also carrying the projection M with it, so that it shall be lifted from contact with the straight face B of the lug B within the hub. Now, it will be seen that in the rotation of the wheel and sprockets, and the contact of the straight face B of the lug B with the latch, the rockshaft L is rotated to the front, and said rotation is continued until the cam N forces the latch out of contact with said projection,when, by gravity of the parts, or by the use of a spring, as O, the parts are brought to their normal position. In case of a backward movement of the planter, the inner projection, M. rides the inclined face 0 of the lug B, and the feeding and delivering devices remain in operative. At each forward oscillation of the rock-shaft, the rod D is drawn forward, carrying with it the rock-arm D and pawl D, so that the feeding-belt is moved one space, and there is dropped therefrom, through the outlet and upon the dropping valve, a charge of seed for the succeeding hill, and at an opposite oscillation of the rock-shaft an opposite movement. takes place in the arm and pawl, the latter taking into atooth in the ratchet for a subsequent movement of the. belt. During this operation of the rock-shaft the deliveryvalve is opened and closed in time relative to that of the feeding-belt, as just described, to drop its contained charge and receive the following charge.

Suitable scrapers may be mounted upon the frame-work and project against the rim of the driving or ground wheels, in order to insure regularity in the distance apart of the dropping of each charge, as is customary.

' By adjustably connecting the rod D in the slotted rock-arm L, the operations of the dropping-valve and the feed-belt may be so timed as to prevent more than one charge being upon the dropping-belt at a given time.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claim is l. The combination of the shaft L, having arms L L bent rod K, shoe H, valve J, rod D pawl-arm D and feed-belt D substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the shaft L, having arms L L sprocket B and spring-latch M with rods K D, shoe H, valve J, and feedbelt D substantially as shown and described.

3. In a potato-planter, the combination, with the sprocket B, having the projection B, of the springseated latch M, having the projections M M the shaft L, box M, and cam N, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with a hopper of the feeding-belt D rolls D, ratchet D pawl D, arm D", and rod D, of the conductor H, shoe H, valve J, rod K, and rock-shaft L, having the rock-arms L L substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination of the sprocketB, chain B sprocket B having the projection B, the

cam N, the latch M, the rock-shaft L, the

rods D and K, the feed-belt D, the shoe H, and valve J, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES M. KARE. 

